On 24 March, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 52 under item 6 during the Universal Review Periodic of Bahrain. The Activist Yusuf Alhori Said in his intervention: Bahrain must explain the lack of medical care toward political prisoners
Thank you Mr. President
The Bahraini government claimed that it had contacted and met with civil society institutions, especially Bahraini human rights organizations, to prepare its national report. The questions needed to be answered by the Bahraini government delegation are, ‘how was this accomplished when a large number of human rights activists and advocates are arbitrarily imprisoned in the country?’ ‘Did you meet with Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace in his prison cell?’ ‘Have you met Mr. Naji Fateel in his cell at the notorious Jau Central Prison?’ ‘Did you sit with the other activists who had their hands and feet bound by torturers affiliated with the Bahraini Ministry of Interior?’
In its official report, the Bahraini government indicated that it had overcome the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, while respecting human rights. Was this done by leaving hundreds of Bahraini citizens stranded in Iran in the most severe times of the pandemic crisis? It was only with the assistance of the State of Qatar that the Al Khalifa government eventually moved to evacuate these citizens and without this aid, we would have been facing a severe humanitarian catastrophe.
This behavior indicates the Khalifi regime’s indifference and disregard for the lives of citizens.
Mohamed Ramadan and Husain Mousa are two citizens sentenced to death based on confessions extracted under severe torture. Following the recommendations that were accepted by the Bahraini government, when will Mohamed Ramadan and Husain Mousa be released and compensated for the torture and the violation of their human rights? When will the Minister of Interior, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, be held accountable for his role in the torture of activiists in Bahrain?
Is it possible for the official government delegation to provide an explanation for the policy of systematic medical negligence practiced against prisoners of conscience in Bahrain? Mr. Hasan Mushaima’s health has seriously deteriorated due to deliberate medical negligence. The latest victim of this policy is the prominent human rights activist, Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who was not taken to a cardiologist despite having a prior appointment. Is the aim of this policy the infliction of a slow death for a prominent critic of the ruling family as a warning to others?
